College Hockey:

There are a maximum of 15 games remaining to be played in Hockey East. I enter this weekend eight games behind Dave. I should be waving the white flag. But my never-give-up mentality is keeping me alive. Then again, Dave can just match all of my picks this weekend and I’m done. So let’s just say that my white flag is hanging out of my back pocket.

Jim last week: 5-3-1Jim to date: 103-78-25Dave last week: 5-3-1Dave to date: 111-70-25

#8 Maine vs. #1 Massachusetts-Lowell (Thurs., Fri., Sun. at Tsongas Arena)Jim’s pick: I know that many will say Maine was playing its best hockey down the stretch, but so was Lowell. And I believe the River Hawks best is significantly better than Maine’s.UML 4, Maine 1; UML 3, Maine 2; (if necc.) UML 4, Maine 2Dave’s pick: I agree completely with Jim. Over their last 22 games, the River Hawks are 18-3-1. While the Black Bears took the regular-season series, 2-1, one loss came early and the other with Connor Hellebuyck sidelined due to injury. Maine will make it more interesting than Jim thinks, but the results will be the same.UML 3, Maine 2; UML 4, Maine 3 (OT); (if necc.) UML 3, Maine 2

#7 Vermont at Boston College (Fri., Sat., and Sun. Kelley Rink)Jim’s pick: Vermont played some great hockey near season’s end, but they now run into a Boston College team that has seemingly had their number when games are played in Chestnut Hill. I do see Vermont keeping it close, but don’t see them winning.BC 3, UVM 2; BC 3, UVM 1; (if necc.) BC 5, UVM 2Dave’s pick: I underestimated the Catamounts all season long and may repeat that mistake yet again, but I can’t see the Eagles getting pushed to a third game.BC 4, UVM 2; BC 4, UVM 1; (if necc.) BC 4, UVM 1

#6 Merrimack at #3 Boston University (Fri., Sat., and Sun. at Agganis Arena)Jim’s pick: This is one of the series I see going three games. Despite BU’s sweep of the Warriors in the regular season, I see this being a very close series with a razor-thin margin of error for each team.MC 4, BU 3; BU 4, MC 2; (if necc.) BU 3, MC 2 (OT)Dave’s pick: I’ve been bullish on the Warriors all season long so you’d think that I’d go with them here, especially with BU losing Garrett Noonan and Matt O’Connor. But BU swept this series and in impressive fashion: a collective 12-4 margin with none of that inflated by empty-net goals. So there’s a significant match-up issue here between two teams with very active defensemen. That, plus I see the Terriers giving their legendary coach an emotional send-off.BU 4, MC 2; BU 3, MC 2; (if necc.) BU 4, MC 2

#5 New Hampshire at #4 Providence (Fri., Sat., and Sun at Schneider Arena)Jim’s pick: There is one storyline that really is in play this weekend: which goaltender will play better. I expect Jon Gillies to handle the pressure of his first playoff and I think he may be the edge Providence needs to advance.PC 3, UNH 2; UNH 2, PC 1; (if necc.) PC 3, UNH 2 (OT)Dave’s pick: Back in November, I expected to see UNH in the Frozen Four. The Wildcats were playing terrific defensive hockey and a great all-around game. But since then, they’ve faltered, most recently going 2-3-5 over their last 10, including losing home ice by managing only a single point in two games at home against Maine. Meanwhile, the Friars have gone 5-2-4 down the stretch, including wins over BC, Lowell, and UNH. Since they are a young team, they could fail to put two exceptional efforts together back-to-back and require a third game like Jim predicts, but I think they’ll sweep.PC 3, UNH 2; PC 3 UNH 2 (OT); (if necc.) PC 3, UNH 2

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Everyone hates the Gophers

Stop the madness! There is only one person who is even in this race…Miele.Schmell….or anyone else for that matter….are all in second place!! Frattin is a complete hockey player…not JUST a goal scorer. He is a larger version of Oshie and with a better shot. Even Barry Melrose (who is God in hockey) says Frattin is the best player in college hockey. All you jokers can stop posting now, it’s Frattin and then a bunch of runner-ups…..lol. Man, just think of it…Hobey and a national championship in the same year…whoa baby……lmao…:)

Get real

if it was determined by the most points Gustav Nyquist from Maine would have won it last year. Character comes into play and getting arrested certainly does not improve the odds.

Littlered007

I think the hobey over the last 10 years has become a joke!!! It should never be judged on goals….. Reason being,”its a hell of alot harder to scrore a goal in the WCHA”. If you don’t think this your a tard!!!! Frattin has a great story in his young life. And will no doubt be a pretty good NHL player. No matter if he wins or not you have the give the guy alot of credit for finding out what is important in his life.He worked hard to get back what he messed up. He was a kid that was drunk and threw a couch in the street at 3 in the morning and got caught. Most of us in life have done much worse and not got caught!!!! As far as Miele, I think he will win the hobey.. I do not agree with him winning! He is a taleted player with one weekeness..If he gets rocked, he get off his game. With this said, Miele will win the hobey then play for a NHL farm team and be done with hockey in 5 years.. Frattin will be in a starting NHL lineup for 10 to 15 years… So who is really winning here.. LMAO!!!!!

Blonerman

No one else in the field comes close to his skills, and you know it.

Tystreit23

Frattin will win the Hobey Baker award, especially with his play in the WCHA championship and the double OT goal to win it for North Dakota

Jbetcher

It’s one of the greatest stories ever of a player screwing up, straightening out and being given another chance.

Larry Dingleman

frattin is the man. shows he can party at the top off the ice. and absolutley dominate on the ice. FER DA BOYS

Frattin will win the Hobey

karl Largen…that is seriously the worst comment i’ve ever seen. Come up with something better than that…….How can you disagree? He plays in the toughest conference in the country…and leads the Nation in goals. He throws is weight around like he doesn’t even care if he kills himself…i’ve seen him rock people….who would be close in this race??

holttd

except that Miele had 3 goals and 3 assists this past weekend and Frattin only had 2 goals and 1 assist.

Jbetcher

That’s the problem with the Hoby. The obvious choice dosn’t always get the award. It’s losing it’s meaning as far as I’m concerned.

sparty2007

have you seen miele play at all this year? i’ve seen both and miele is much more skilled than frattin. if you dont believe me, this might help you:

clearly you haven’t seen miele play at all this year. if you are talking about pure skill then no one comes close to miele. the guy is a better version of nathan gerbe. oh yeah, and he hasnt been arrested. better player on the ice and off it.

holttd

the obvious choice is the guy with 14 more points in 3 fewer games.

Suture1

I watched the video. What I saw was some very bad defensemen on some very weak teams. Miele is talented, no doubt about it. But, I am telling you, he is not the player Frattin is. Miele might have slightly better stick handling skills but as an OVERALL hockey player there is simply nobody in Frattin’s league. I think you would have to see him play through the year to get a true idea of how awesome of player he really is. Miele might make a nice video but when it comes to winning hockey games for your team there is nobody in Frattin’s class. Barry Melrose knows hockey fairly well I think most of us would agree and he sees Frattin as the best hockey player in the college ranks. I am serious, there is nobody that can play with Frattin game in and game out through a season. I won’t get into whose conference is better and al that jack….but I think the WCHA doesn’t take a backseat to any conference. Frattin has tore up the WCHA this year and that is making quite a statement.

Anonymous

Miele has a great view of the game and great stick handling skills… difference being that UND has depth and doesn’t place all our goal scorers on 1 line… Frattin can hit like no other, play the defensive side of the puck, and score goals against teams that don’t look like a bunch of cones standing around on the ice. No doubt both him and Frattin will be in the Hat Trick… but Frattin could have taken the easy road out…. but didn’t and has come back as THE best college hockey player in the league on the #1 ranked team and in the best college hockey conference.

Rvanwey

Not the obvious choice…. Its just just how many points scored, it’s when and how those points were scored. Its about two way play, its about the players ability to adapt and make plays happen. It’s about being the best player on the ice no matter when… Who has come up bigger for their team???

Frattin will win the Hobey

Ya…Against Crappier Competition……

Frattin will win the Hobey

Miele is great player…no doubt about it. He’s no Frattin. Take Miele out of the CCHA and put him in the WCHA…..he wouldn’t come close to Frattin. WCHA is a Physical League…this guy would get his T*!* Lit Up! See You at the Frozen Four.

Jim Connelly is a senior writer and has been with USCHO.com since 1999. He is based in Boston and regularly covers Hockey East. He began with USCHO.com as the correspondent covering the MAAC, which nowadays is known as Atlantic Hockey. Each week during the season, he writes "Tuesday Morning Quarterback."Tweets by @jimmyconnelly